Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (books for men to read TXT) 📗

what he means by breaking the curse, but I scramble to my feet, ready to go at it with the fae king when magic smacks me, disorienting me.

A scream falls from my lips as something hot chomps down on my boot but doesn’t break through. I kick out, landing a kick on a furry chest. For a moment, I fear it’s Corbin, but the werewolf shrinks back.

I wonder what will happen if a vampire bites a werewolf. But before the question concludes, I lunge at the cursed wolf. She zips out of my way. I don’t falter. Rather, I fight, kick, and hiss at her.

Through my vampire haze, I feel the magnetic pull of my mate as if he’s trying to displace the vamp and drag me back to my senses.

It’s as if I’ve used the mesmer power on myself.

I bear down on the werewolf, closing my hands around her neck. She flails, trying to break free, but I’m stronger and she’s already weakened by the fight and losing air.

My mind is blank, gray. My body is frigid, rigid. Unlike when I killed Amanda, which was over quickly, this is slow. I watch the life draining from the werewolf’s eyes.

I don’t want the murderous pull of the vampire to defeat me, to defeat the cursed wolf, but again, I am defending my life, Corbin’s, and all of the people who died because of her.

Suddenly, the werewolf surges, breaking loose. She gasps for air, tossing me back against a cluster of rocks.

What feels like an icicle plunges into me, through me. I see little more than thick darkness.

My thoughts fade one by one.

Clove is not who I thought he was. I despise him.

My father is gone but wanted me to break a curse.

My mother appeared, enhancing my vamp abilities.

Corbin, my mate, betrayed me and then protected me.

I try to rise to the surface of what feels like a chasm to get my bearings. I blink, once, twice. The moon, shining brilliantly and beautifully overhead suddenly feels extra distant and cold.

The voices surrounding me and within me fade except for one. I want to fight for my life. For many lives. For love.

Then I am gone.

Chapter 24

Corbin

Summoning my betas, I struggle to wrap my head around the fact that the werewolf is Visalia—Logan’s mate. But how can that be if she’s also fae?

As I drive my shoulder into her, I want to ask why she’s doing this. But the wolf-way of communicating isn’t open between Alphas and werewolves. She exists inside a curse. If only Logan had been able to help her break it.

The best answer I can come up with for her behavior is that it’s in her nature. But why she aligned with Melchior is something else entirely. I don’t plan on letting her live after killing so many humans. I must rid the world of cursed wolves.

I can only speculate about her motivation. Why my pack? Me? Why Kenna? Revenge is my best guess.

She falls against a rock, striking it hard and yelping. I lunge forward again to prevent her from getting up. Unlike the inter-wolf communication discrepancy, wolves, no matter the kind, can kill other wolves.

As we battle, Melchior recedes, a silhouette, standing on the edge of the clearing. His beard and robes gleam in the moonlight.

Clove approaches him with the scepter.

I have to focus on the werewolf, but can’t help but wonder why Clove deceived us. Is he turning over the real scepter to the fae king? Clove’s mother, Jana, lay on the ground, dead to this world.

From somewhere in the woods, intones a fae song, much like the one Jana sang. The fae are coming to collect her.

Three star-like bursts of magic fly from the scepter and toward the king. He splays his fingers, but the magic is no match for the kind amplified by the scepter.

The wind, an invisible menace, disappears.

The three flames burn, brighter, illuminating Clove, lighting up the forest. They dance toward the king,

Before I see what happens, I falter. The werewolf chomps down on my ear. My surroundings tilt for a moment then a growl erupts from me as I drive toward the werewolf.

I go in for the death blow to puncture her neck. I say an apology to whatever remains of her spirit and bite. My canine teeth sink into her flesh, hitting their target. She snarls then whines before going still.

I hate the feeling, what I’m driven to do. The taste of the werewolf’s blood almost makes me dizzy. It’s an unsettling feeling and comes over me like a wave knocking me off-center. The venom in her teeth are dangerous and cause the change. She bit me, but her blood is the antidote, protecting me from going through the change to a werewolf.

I scan the clearing for Kenna, the fae king, and Clove. A lumpen shape hovers over something on the ground. The clouds blow away, revealing the full moon and starry sky above, and Kenna.

The figure bowed over her shakes and sobs. Kenna’s legs jut out and are still. Completely still.

I shout frantically for my mate.

Her mother glances up at me. “I’m sorry, Corbin. I thought—”

“What happened?” I gasp.

“Melchior stabbed her in the heart.” Jackie wails.

The world spins, taking my breath with it. My chest craters. “No, no, no,” I repeat, dropping to my knees and taking my mate in my arms. “I would do anything to have her back. Not to have lied. To have found another way. To not have gotten her involved in this.” My throat is thick, and I fall silent.

The red cloak drapes over Jackie’s shoulders. “I thought if I were here, I’d be able to help her wield her vampire power. I didn’t expect